John b



(Model.)

J. B. LAUMANN.

GATGH BASIN VALVE.

No. 249,956. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

Fig-l.

.bmvmam I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. LAUMANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTIN B. KELLAR, OF SAME PLACE.

CATCH-BASIN VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,956, dated November 22, 1881.

Application filed May 3, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. LAUMANN, of Oincinnati,'Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Catch-Basin Valve, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an outlet device for catch-basins, &c., which device is so constructed as to allow afree escape of water as soon as a certain level is reached, and to permit the lower or more solid deposits in the basin to be completely discharged whenever desired. The preferred construction of said device includes a grating or cage having a depending neck that enters the upperend of the dischargepipe of the basin, said grating being provided with a seat, upon which latter rests a suitable valve attached to or forming part of an overflow-tube adapted to play verticall y within the guidin g-neck of said grating. When this shiftable tube is depressed its valve rests on said seat, and thus prevents any escape of the lower deposits in the basin, while the perforated or open upper end of said tube allows water to flow uninterruptedly into the discharge-pipe as -soon as the fluid reaches the top of the said shiftable tube. This tube, however, can be lifted bodily at any time, so as to raise its valvefrom the seat, and thus allow the entire contents of the basin to run into the discharge-pipe, as hereinafter more. fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure lis a vertical section of a catch-basin provided with'my outlet device, the valve of the same being shown in its normal or closed condition. Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial section of the device detached from the basin, the valve being shown raised from its seat. Figs. 3 and 4 show two of a number of modifications of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, Arepresents a catch-basin or other similar receptacle, of any desired shape and capacity, and B are inlet-pipes that discharge into said basin water, slops, excreta, 850., from the house, kitchen, water-closet, stable, and other places that require draining.

O is a man-hole, that affords entrance to the basin for inspection, repairs, 85c.

Fitted within the basin is an ordinary discharge-pipe, D, communicating with a vault or sewer or other deposit of excreta, &c., said pipe being provided with any approved form of trap or seal to prevent noxious gases flowing back through channel D and accumulating in the receptacle A. The upper end of this pipe terminates with an ordinary socket, within which is fitted the neck E of a grating or cage,which may be of any desired form, although the following construction is preferred.

A cylindrical casting, F, is provided with a series of slots, G, an annular ridge-shaped seat, H, and a number of legs, I, whose feet are adapted to rest under the floor of the basin or pit, as seen in Fig. 1, and thereby assist in retaining said casting in its proper position.

This neck E is traversed by a cylinder or pipe, 6 J, open at bottom, and having near its lower end a series of slots or other apertures, K, above which is situated an annular flange, L, of such shape as to fit snugly down on seat H when said cylinder J is in its normal position.

This flange L may either be cast with the-cylinder J, or it may be attached thereto. The top of the pipe Jmay be entirely open,with the exception of a single cross-bar to admit the attachment of a lifting-rod, N; but Iprefer to 7 5 Achannel,R, is made in the wall of the basin above the water-level,which channel has apipe, S, communicating with a chimney-flue orother outlet capable of drawing off any foul exhalations from said receptacle. The operation of this form of my invention is as follows: The

outlet device having been properly applied and the overflow-pipe J dropped into the cage F, so as to cause the valve L to rest on the seat H, it is apparent no discharge can immediately occur through the pipe D. As soon, how- 0 ever, as the catchbasin A is filled as high as the openings 0 of tube J, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1, the fluids will flow through said openings, thence down the tube, and finally out through the pipe D into the sewer, vault, 5

or other place of deposit. It will thus be seen that the perforated tube J serves as an overflow-channel and effectually prevents the water in basin A rising beyond a certain predetermined level, which level may be arranged to suit any special location of the pit to which my outlet device is applied.

When it is desired to empty the pitAof its entire contents, the tube J is lifted'bodily, so as to raise its ports K above the seat H, as seen in Fig. 2, which act allows the more solid deposits-such as excreta, stones, gravel, &c. to run through the slots G K and escapeinto the discharge-pipe D. After the basin has been thus emptied the tubeJ is lowered until its valve L rests on the seat H,when said tube or pipe again acts as an overflow as soon as the water rises to the level of openings 0.

As considerable power will be required to raise the pipe J and the deposit on the upper surface of its attached valve L, the exposed end of rod N should be provided with a rack gearing with a pinion, or the necessary purchase may be obtained either with a screw or cam-lever or other instrumentality.

The invention may be modified in thematter of details-as, for example, the slots G may be inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be vertical, as represented in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3 these slots are shown as protected with inclined fender-bars T, while in Fig. 4 a cap or hood, U, is arranged to prevent the entrance into said slots of sticks, stones, and other obstructions. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows the neckEprolonged upwardly atE, and the valve L formed at the lower end of the overflow-pipe J. In Fig. 4 the same arrangement of over flow and valve is seen; but the slots G are represented as made near the top of a lateral branch pipe, V. Whichever of these modifications may be employed, it is evident the overflow-pipe J allows a free and unobstructed escape of water as soon as it reaches a certain level, while the bodily elevation of said pipe secures a prompt and complete emptying of the contents of the catch-basin. Furthermore, it is evident that by causing the overflow J to traverse the cage F G a single discharge-pipe, D, is utilized for the double purpose of completely emptying the basin A, and also of allowing an ordinary flow of water through said pipe.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, within a catch-basin, of a movable overflow-pipe which allows a free escape of water as soon as the latter reaches a certain level, while the bodily elevation of said pipe within its inclosing cage or grating causes said basin to be emptied, as hereinldescribed.

2. The slotted grating F, having a neck, E, and seat H, in combination with the movable overflow-pipe J, having slots K, valve L, and an inlet, 0, said overflow-pipe being adapted to allow a free escape of water as soon as the latter reaches a certain level, while the bodily elevation of said pipe within the cage F E G H causes the catch-basin to be emptied, as herein described.

3. The grating F, having feet I to engage under the floor of the catch-basin or pit, for the purpose described.

4. The combination, within a catch-basin, of a shiftable overflow-pipe traversing a cage, which latter communicates with the single dis charge-pipe of said basin, as herein described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

I JOHN B. LAUMANN.

'Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, WM. (3. KELLAR. 

